To view part 1 and part 2, please visit learn calligraphy section, regarding the small seal script (小篆).

The key brush operating technique applied in writing of the small seal script, is so called "hidden spear" (藏鋒). The spear is a reference to the tip of the brush, and "to hide the spear" means to conceal the brush tip inside the brush stroke (in the centre of the line) during writing. By doing so, it is possible to maintain equal thickness of the line, even while writing curved strokes.

Small seal script brush stroke structure and its appearance is more supple than the one of the great seal script (大篆). There are many curves, and most characters have a symmetrical construction. Maintaining the uniform thickness of lines is one of the things to pay attention to during studies.